Нейромант
Chapter 9
Thearcadefroze,vibrated--
Shewasgone.Theweightofmemorycamedown,anentirebodyofknowledgedrivenintohisheadlikeamicrosoftintoasocket.Gone.Hesmelledburningmeat.
Thesailorinthewhitet-shirtwasgone.Thearcadewasempty,silent.Caseturnedslowly,hisshouldershunched,teethbared,hishandsbunchedintoinvoluntaryfists.Empty.Acrumpledyellowcandywrapper,balancedontheedgeofaconsole,droppedtothefloorandlayamidflattenedbuttsandstyrofoamcups.
`Ihadacigarette,’Casesaid,lookingdownathiswhiteknuckledfist.`Ihadacigaretteandagirlandaplacetosleep.Doyouhearme,yousonofabitch?Youhearme?’
Echoesmovedthroughthehollowofthearcade,fadingdowncorridorsofconsoles.
Hesteppedoutintothestreet.Therainhadstopped.
Ninseiwasdeserted.
Hologramsflickered,neondanced.Hesmelledboiledvegetablesfromavendor’spushcartacrossthestreet.AnunopenedpackofYeheyuanslayathisfeet,besideabookofmatches.JULIUSDEANEIMPORTEXPORT.CasestaredattheprintedlogoanditsJapanesetranslation.
`Okay,’hesaid,pickingupthematchesandopeningthepackofcigarettes.`Ihearyou.’
HetookhistimeclimbingthestairsofDeane’soffice.Norush,hetoldhimself,nohurry.ThesaggingfaceoftheDaliclockstilltoldthewrongtime.TherewasdustontheKandinskytableandtheNeo-Aztecbookcases.
